Guides
Do I need ads or SEO first?
Updated 14 October 2026
Get found first, then pay for reach. For most local businesses that means a solid Google Business Profile and a clear website before spending on ads. Ads bring visitors quickly but stop the day you stop paying; search work is slower but keeps working. The right order depends on how fast you need customers.
The difference in one line each
Ads: you pay to be shown, results can start within days, and they stop when the budget stops.
SEO and local search: you earn your place in results, it takes months to build, and it keeps bringing people in without paying per click.
Why the basics come first
Every ad sends people somewhere. If they land on a slow, unclear website, or check your Google profile and find three-year-old photos and no reviews, you've paid for the click and lost the customer.
So before running ads, make sure your website loads fast on a phone and says clearly what you do and where, and that your Google profile is complete and verified.
When ads first makes sense
If you need customers this month, are launching something time-limited, or work in a field where it's hard to rank, ads can bridge the gap while your search presence builds. Start with a small budget, track calls and enquiries, not just clicks, and keep working on the basics underneath.
Where Spottable fits
We build the foundations: your website, your Google Business Profile and monthly local and AI search care. We design still ads today; running ads for you is coming soon. If you need ads running right now, we'll tell you that honestly.